Frequency translation in a virtualized distributed antenna system

ABSTRACT

A method for communicating with wireless user devices includes receiving a signal at a DAU, the signal residing within a first frequency band and processing the signal at the DAU. The method also includes transmitting the processed signal from the DAU and receiving the transmitted signal at a DRU. The method further includes converting the signal to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/753,288, filed on Jan. 29, 2013; which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/592,190, filed on Jan. 30, 2012.Each of these references is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication systems employing Distributed Antenna Systems(DAS) are available. A DAS typically includes one or more host units,optical fiber cable or other suitable transport infrastructure, andmultiple remote antenna units. A radio base station is often employed atthe host unit location commonly known as a base station hotel, and theDAS provides a means for distribution of the base station's downlink anduplink signals among multiple remote antenna units. The DAS architecturewith routing of signals to and from remote antenna units can be eitherfixed or reconfigurable.

A DAS is advantageous from a signal strength and throughput perspectivebecause its remote antenna units are physically close to wirelesssubscribers. The benefits of a DAS include reducing average downlinktransmit power and reducing average uplink transmit power, as well asenhancing quality of service and data throughput.

Despite the progress made in wireless communications systems, a needexists for improved methods and systems related to wirelesscommunications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to communication networks.More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide methodsand systems related to the provision and operation of virtualdistributed antenna systems (DASs). Merely by way of example, thepresent invention has been applied to DASs utilizing softwareconfigurable radio (SCR). The methods and systems described herein areapplicable to a variety of communications systems including systemsutilizing various communications standards.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an interacting withfrequency-restricted Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and to anon-reciprocal series of frequency translations. Factors such as userdevices, geographical locations, and frequency regulations may influencean operator's decision as to which frequencies to transmit at particularlocations. In some instances, the operator may own one or more BTSs thatare limited in terms of frequencies that the BTS may transmit andreceive. Traditionally, an operator may then be forced to eitherpurchase new BTS equipment (e.g., new transceiver cards) or confine theassociated network to frequency bands supported by the existing BTSequipment. Embodiments provided herein allow a BTS to operate within afirst frequency range and antenna in communication with the BTS tooperate within a different second frequency range. For example, signals(e.g., uplink-carrier signals and/or beacons) may be transmitted fromthe BTS within a RF base-station frequency band, they may then betranslated into a baseband frequency band as the signals are carriedtowards a digital remote unit (DRU), and an antenna at the DRU maytranslate the baseband signals to one or more RF field frequency bandsdifferent from the base-station frequency band. A converse process mayoccur to translate signals received at the DRU transmitted to the BTS.Thus, an operator may be able to dynamically control frequency bandsassociated with particular DRUs (and with particular geographic areas)even if the BTS is unable to adjust its transmission and receivefrequency bands. Further, these translations may be applied to a selectset of signals associated with the DRU (e.g., some or all beaconsignals). Thus, it may be possible to transmit, e.g., beacons from aDRU-associated antenna within a plurality of frequency bands, even if anassociated BTS is not configured to emit the signals within all of thebands.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system forcommunicating with wireless user devices is provided. The systemincludes a base transceiver station (BTS) comprising at least onesector. Each sector is configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF)signals within one or more first frequency bands. The system alsoincludes a Digital Access Unit (DAU) coupled to the BTS and configuredto receive at least some of the RF signals output by the basetransceiver station and process the at least some of the RF signals. TheDAU is also configured to transmit the processed signals. The systemfurther includes at least one Digital Remote Unite (DRU) configured toreceive the processed signals and translate at least one of theprocessed signals to one or more second frequency bands different thanthe one or more first frequency bands.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forcommunicating with wireless user devices is provided. The methodincludes receiving a signal at a DAU, the signal residing within a firstfrequency band and processing the signal at the DAU. The method alsoincludes transmitting the processed signal from the DAU, receiving thetransmitted signal at a DRU, and converting the signal to a secondfrequency band different than the first frequency band.

According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor communicating with wireless user devices is provided. The methodincludes receiving a plurality of beacon signals, each of the beaconsignals having originated at a BTS and having been transmitted by theBTS within one or more first frequency bands and translating each of theplurality of beacon signals. The translated signals are within one ormore second frequency bands, the one or more first frequency bands aredifferent than the one or more second frequency bands, the one or morefirst frequency bands comprise an RF frequency, and the one or moresecond frequency bands comprise an RF frequency.

According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, asystem for communicating with wireless user devices is provided. Thesystem includes a Digital Access Unit (DAU) operable to receive at leastone RF signal from a base station. The at least one RF signal isassociated with a first frequency band and the DAU includes an RF input,a first mixer coupled to the RF input, and an oscillator coupled to thefirst mixer and operable to convert signals in the first frequency bandto an intermediate frequency. The DAU also includes an A/D convertercoupled to the mixer and a first FPGA coupled to the A/D converter. Thesystem also includes a Digital Remote Unit (DRU) coupled to the DAU. TheDRU includes a second FPGA, a D/A converter coupled to the second FPGA,and a second mixer coupled to the D/A converter and operable to convertsignals at the intermediate frequency to a second frequency banddifferent from the first frequency band. The DRU also includes an RFoutput coupled to the second mixer. The system further includes anantenna coupled to the DRU.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, asystem for communicating with wireless user devices is provided. Thesystem can include a base transceiver station (BTS) including at leastone sector. Each sector is configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF)signals within one or more first frequency bands. The system alsoincludes a Digital Access Unit (DAU) coupled to the BTS and configuredto receive at least some of the RF signals output by the basetransceiver station, process the at least some of the RF signals, andtransmit the processed signals. The system further includes at least oneDigital Remote Unit (DRU) configured to receive the processed signalsand translate at least one of the processed signals to one or moresecond frequency bands. The one or more second frequency bands aredifferent than the one or more first frequency bands.

According to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, amethod for communicating with wireless user devices is provided. Themethod includes receiving an input from an operator identifying a fieldfrequency band. The method further includes virtually configuring a DRUto convert signals to the field frequency band.

According to yet another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, a method for communicating with wireless user devices isprovided. The method includes receiving a signal at a DAU. The signalresides within a first frequency band. The method further includesprocessing the signal at the DAU. The method also includes transmittingthe processed signal from the DAU. The method further includes receivingthe transmitted signal at a DRU. The method further includes convertingthe signal to a second frequency band. The second frequency band isdifferent than the first frequency band.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor communicating with wireless user devices is provided. The methodincludes receiving a plurality of beacon signals. Each of the −beaconsignals originated at a BTS. Each of the −beacon signals was transmittedby the BTS within one or more first frequency bands. The method furtherincludes translating each of the plurality of −beacon signals. Thetranslated signals are within one or more second frequency bands. Theone or more first frequency bands are different than the one or moresecond frequency bands. The one or more first frequency bands comprisean RF frequency. The one or more second frequency bands comprise an RFfrequency.

Numerous benefits are achieved by way of the present invention overconventional techniques. For instance, embodiments of the presentinvention allow a network to effectively adapt to frequency demandsplaced on the network. For example, frequency bands associated with aparticular DRU may be altered or expanded in response to, e.g., newtypes of devices accessing the DRU, new frequency regulations, newfrequency use at geographical locations surrounding a locationassociated with the DRU, a relocation of the DRU, new BTS provisioningof the DRU, and the like. Further, the alteration or expansion may beaccomplished without physically altering the network (e.g., replacingBTS equipment, installing new DRU equipment, etc.). Thus, an operatormay easily and quickly adjust a frequency footprint of a network andefficiently respond to network demands.

These and other embodiments of the invention along with many of itsadvantages and features are described in more detail in conjunction withthe text below and attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wireless networksystem providing coverage to a geographical area according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wireless networksystem providing coverage to a geographical area according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating Physical Nodes ina Digital Access Unit (DAU) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating Physical Nodes ina Digital Remote Unit (DRU) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a DAU according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a DRU according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method of identifyingfrequency-translation information according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method of processingsignals according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a-transmitting signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a-transmitting signalsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wirelessnetwork system transmitting signals according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wirelessnetwork system transmitting signals according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wirelessnetwork system transmitting signals according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a computer systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of communicatingwith a wireless user device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Wireless and mobile network operators face the continuing challenge ofbuilding networks that effectively manage high data-traffic growthrates. Mobility and an increased level of multimedia content for endusers typically employs end-to-end network adaptations that support newservices and the increased demand for broadband and flat-rate Internetaccess. One of the challenges faced by network operators is caused bythe cost incurred of upgrading Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) orreconfiguring the geographical frequency plan of the network operators,such that frequency bands available to network users may be adjusted.Specifically, some BTS equipment is only able to transmit and receivesignals within, e.g., one or a small number of frequency bands.Meanwhile, an operator may wish to subsequently transmit and receivesignals, via antennas coupled to the BTS equipment, at differentfrequencies. A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) can make efficient useof the frequency-restricted hardware and can provide flexibility inrepositioning the carrier frequencies and beacons of the infrastructurehardware. Applications of embodiments of the present invention may besuitable to be employed with distributed base stations, distributedantenna systems, distributed repeaters, mobile equipment and wirelessterminals, portable wireless devices, and/or other wirelesscommunication systems such as microwave and satellite communications.

FIGS. 1-2 are high-level schematic diagrams illustrating wirelessnetwork systems according to embodiments of the present invention. Theconfiguration of these systems may allow the system to dynamicallyaccommodate variations in wireless network loading and network carriergeographical reconfiguration and to further efficiently use base-stationresources.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one wireless network system 100 thatmay provide coverage to a geographical area according to an embodimentof the present invention. System 100 may include a DAS, which mayefficiently use base-station resources. One or more base stations 105may be located in a central location and/or at a base-station hotel. Oneor more base stations 105 may include a plurality of independent outputsor radio resources, known as sectors 110. Each sector 110 may beresponsible for providing wireless resources (e.g., RF carrier signals,Long Term Evolution Resource Blocks, Code Division Multiple Accesscodes, Time Division Multiple Access time slots, etc.). The resourcesmay include one or more resources that allow a wireless user mobiledevice to effectively and wirelessly send and receive communicationsover a network. Thus, the resources may include one or more resources,such as those listed above, that allow a signal to be encoded or decodedin a manner to prevent the signal from interfering with or beinginterfered with by other wireless signals.

Base stations 105 may include hardware constraints that limit theresources that it may provide. For example, sectors 110 of base station105 may include a channel card, which constrains the sectors to onlyproviding RF carrier signals within one or more specific frequencybands.

Each sector may be coupled to a software-configurable radio (SCR) (whichmay also be referred to as a software-defined radio (SDR)) based digitalaccess unit (DAU) 115, which may interface the sector 110 (and thus basestation 105) with digital remote units (DRUs) 120. The coupling mayrepresent a physical coupling. For example, DAU 115 may be connected tosector 110 and/or DRU 120 via a cable, a link, fiber, a high-speedoptical fiber link, an RF cable, an optical fiber, an Ethernet cable,microwave line of sight link, wireless link, satellite link, etc. Insome instances, DAU 115 is connected to sector 110 via an RF cable. Insome instances, DAU 115 is connected to one or more DRUs via an opticalfiber or Ethernet cable. An associated sector 110 and DAU 115 may belocated near each other or at a same location. DAU 115 may convertsignals (e.g., to different frequency bands); control routing of dataand/or signals between sectors and DRUs; and/or provision sectorresources across DRUs. For example, a DAS network may include routertables (e.g., sent to DAUs 115 by server 130) that identify specificbase stations 105 which are to communicate with and/or allocateresources to specific DRUs 120 and that further identify paths (e.g.,via one or more DAUs 115) that will enable such communication and/orallocation. Router tables may further identify frequency translations tobe performed at one or more locations along the path (e.g., at a DAUreceiving and/or transmitting signals directly to a sector; and/or at anend-path DRU). That is, the router tables may identify path positions atwhich frequency translations should be performed and/or the frequencytranslations that should be performed at those locations. DAU 115 maygenerate and/or store traffic statistics, such as a number ofcommunications, calls, network-access sessions, etc. between sector 110and one or more DRUs 120.

Each DAU 115 may be coupled to a plurality of digital remote units (DRU)120. The plurality of DRUs 120 may be coupled to the DAU 115 through,e.g., a daisy-chain (indirectly coupling a DAU with one or more DRUs)and/or star configuration (directly coupling a DAU to multiple DRUs).FIG. 1 shows an example of daisy-chain configurations, wherein a DAUcouples to a first DRU directly (e.g., direct connection from DAU 1 toDRU 1), a second DRU indirectly (e.g., indirect connection from DAU 1 toDRU 2 through DRU 1), a third DRU indirectly (e.g., indirect connectionfrom DAU 1 to DRU 3 through DRUs 1 and 2), etc. FIG. 1 also shows anexample of star configurations, wherein a DAU couples to multiple DRUsdirectly (e.g., direct connections from DAU 1 to DRU 1 and DRU 23).

Each of the DRUs can provide coverage within a geographical areaphysically surrounding the DRU. DRUs 120 may be strategically located toefficiently provide combined coverage across a larger geographical area(a “cell” 125). For example, DRUs 120 may be located along a grid,and/or coverage areas associated with adjacent DRUs 120 may be barelyoverlapping. A network may include a plurality of independent cells thatspan a total coverage area.

Each cell 125 may be assigned to a sector 110. FIG. 1, for example,shows an embodiment in which Sector 1 provides resources to Cells 1 and8, Sector 2 to Cells 2 and 10, and Sector 3 to Cells 3 and 4. Anassociated sector may provide each DRU with resources, such as RFcarriers, resource blocks, etc. In one embodiment, each of a pluralityof sectors 110 is associated with a set of “channels” or frequencyranges. The set of channels associated with each sector 110 may bedifferent from a set of channels associated with other sectors 110 inbase station 105. In some instances, channels associated with one ormore particular sectors 110 (and/or with one or more base stations 105)are fixed. A network may be configured such that neighboring cells 125are associated with different channels (e.g., by being associated withdifferent sectors 110), as shown in FIG. 1. This may allow channels tobe reused across multiple cells without the risk of creatinginterference.

An uplink signal may be received at a DRU 120, e.g., from a cell phone.The received signal may be within a “field” frequency band or channel(e.g., a particular RF band, such as the cellular band). The signal maybe translated at the DRU 120 from the field frequency band to a basebandfrequency band. The translated signal may be transmitted (e.g., via anoptical fiber and through any intervening DAUs 115 and DRUs 120) to aDAU 115 coupled to a sector 110, and the DAU 115 may further translatethe signal from the baseband frequency band to a base-station frequencyband (e.g., a same or different RF band, such as the PCS band). The DRU120 may incorporate unique information associated with the DRU 120 intothe signal that it transmits to the DAU 115, such that it may bedetermined that the uplink data in the signal was received by theparticular DRU 120.

Conversely, a downlink signal may be received at a DAU 115 from a sector110. The downlink signal may be within the base-station frequency band(e.g., a particular RF band). The DAU 115 may translate the signal fromthe base-station frequency band to a baseband frequency band. Thetranslated signal may be transmitted (e.g., via an optical fiber cable)to a target DRU 120. Any other DAUs and/or DRUs in the path to thetarget DRU 120 are involved in passing the translated signal to thetarget DRU. At the target DRU 120, the translated signal may be furthertranslated from the baseband frequency band to the field frequency band(e.g., a same or different RF band). The signal may then be transmitted,e.g., to the cell phone. Thus, both DAU 115 and DRU 120 may include amulti-directional signal converter, such that, e.g., RF signals may beconverted to optical signals and optical signals to RF signals.Disclosed DAS architecture enables various base-station signals to betransported simultaneously to and from multiple DRUs 120. PEER ports maybe used for interconnecting DAUs 115 and interconnecting DRUs 120.

Thus, base station 105 may be involved in bi-directional communicationswith user devices. Additionally or alternatively, base station 105 maytransmit uni-directional communications to user devices. For example,beacons may be sent from a sector 110, via one or more DAUs 115 and oneor more DRUs 120 to a user device. The beacon may include a signalincluding information as to which resources are provided by the sector110 and thus, which resources are available to a user device within ageographic area associated with the DRU 120 transmitting the signal. Forexample, the beacon may identify a frequency band available forbi-directional signal communications in a geographical area associatedwith a DRU 120.

Sector resources (e.g., available frequency bands) may be dynamicallyre:provisioned amongst DRUs 120, e.g., via Flexible Simulcast. Eachindividual data packet (e.g., included in a downlink or uplink signal)may be provided with a unique identity to which DRU 120 it is associatedwith. The DAUs 115 may be interconnected, as shown in FIG. 1, to allowtransport of data among multiple DAUs. This feature provides the uniqueflexibility in the DAS network to route signals between the sectors 110and the individual DRUs 120.

DAU communications, routing tables or functions, switches and/orfrequency translations may be partly controlled by one or more servers130. The servers 130 may be in communication with one or more DAUs 115and/or one or more DRUs 120. For example, the servers 130 may bephysically or wirelessly coupled to DAUs 115 and wirelessly coupled toDRUs 120. Using information received from the one or more servers 130,DAUs 115 can dynamically route signals and provision resources todesired DRUs. Thus, DRUs 120 may be dynamically assigned (e.g., viasoftware control) to sectors 110.

For example, DRUs 1-7 in Cell 1 may initially all be assigned to Sector1. (FIG. 1.) Subsequently, DRU 5 may be assigned to Sector 3 and DRU 6may be assigned to Sector 4. In such instances, signals to DRU 6 maypass from Sector 2 through DAU 2 and through DAU 1. (Conversely, signalsmay pass from DRU 6 through DAU 1 and DAU 2 to Sector 2.) Similarly,signals to DRU 5 may pass from Sector 3 through DAU 3, through DAU 2 andthrough DAU 1. In this manner, a sector may be indirectly connected witha larger subset of DRUs in a network or with all DRUs in a network.

Further, server 130 may communicate frequency-translation information toDAUs 115. The information may identify, e.g., a frequency translation tooccur at a DAU 115, a DAU 115 that is to perform the frequencytranslation, a frequency band defining signals to be received at a DAU115, and/or a frequency band in which signals transmitted from the DAU115 should reside. For example, in FIG. 1, server 130 may sendinformation to DAU 1 that Sector 1 operates in the cellular band. DAU 1may then configure a DAU physical node to translate signals receivedfrom Sector 1 from the cellular band to a baseband (for opticaltransmission), and to translate signals received from a DRU 1-7 from thebaseband to the cellular band.

Server 130 may also communicate (e.g., via a wireless network)frequency-translation information to one or more DRUs 120. Theinformation may identify, e.g., a frequency translation to occur at aDRU 120, a DRU 120 that is to perform the frequency translation, afrequency band defining signals to be received at a DRU 120, and/or afrequency band in which signals transmitted from the DRU 120 shouldreside. For example, in FIG. 1, server 130 may wirelessly sendinformation to DRU 1 that the DRU is to operate in the PCS band. DAU 1may then configure a DRU physical node to receive PCS signals from userdevices, translate user-device signals from the PCS band to a baseband(for optical transmission), and to translate signals received from DAU 1from the baseband to the PCS band.

DAUs 115 may be configured to control a gain (in small increments over awide range) of downlink and uplink signals transported between the DAU115 and a base station sector 110 (or base stations) connected to thatDAU 115. This configuration allows a flexibility to simultaneouslycontrol the uplink and downlink connectivity of a path between aparticular DRU (or a group of DRUs via the associated DAU or DAUs) and aparticular base station sector. If, e.g., a DRU 120 is reassigned fromone sector 110 to another 110, DAUs 115 may gradually adjust the gain ofsignals to allow for a soft hand-off between the sectors (e.g., therebypreventing a call from being dropped).

DAUs 110 may be physically and/or virtually connected. For example, inone embodiment, DAUs 110 are connected via a cable or fiber (e.g., anoptical fiber, an Ethernet cable, microwave line of sight link, wirelesslink, or satellite link). In one embodiment, a plurality of DAUs 110 areconnected to a wireless network, which allows information to betransmitted from one DAU 110 to another DAU 110 and/or allowsinformation to be transmitted from/to a plurality of DAUs 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, a load-balancing system may include multiple basestations (or multiple base station hotels) 105. Different base stations105 may be associated with the same, or different frequency bands. Basestations 105 may be interconnected, e.g., to serve a geographic area.The interconnection may include a direct connection extending betweenthe base stations (e.g., a cable) or an indirect connection (e.g., eachbase station connecting to a DAU, the DAUs being directly connected toeach other). The greater number of base stations may increase theability to add capacity for a given cell. Base stations 105 mayrepresent independent wireless network operators and/or multiplestandards (WCDMA, LTE, etc.), and/or they may represent provision ofadditional RF carriers. In some embodiments, base station signals arecombined before they are connected to a DAU, as may be the case for aNeutral Host application. In one instance, as shown in FIG. 2, sectorsfrom BTS 1 are directly coupled to the same DAUs and/or DRUs that aredirectly coupled to sectors to BTS N. In some other instances, one ormore sectors from different BTS may be directly coupled to DAUs notshared by sectors of one or more other DAUs. Load balancing may or maynot be applied differently to the different base stations 110. Forexample, if DRU 5 is reassigned from Sector 1 to Sector 2 in BTS 1, itmay or may not be similarly reassigned in BTS N.

Referring to FIG. 2 and by way of example, DAU 1 receives downlinksignals from BTS 1, Sector 1. DAU 1 translates the signals (e.g., RFsignals to optical signals) and an optical fiber cable transports thedesired signals to DRU 1. The optical cable transports all the opticalsignals to DRU 2. The other DRUs in the daisy chain are involved inpassing the optical signals onward to DRU 7. DAU 1 is networked with DAU2 to allow the downlink signals from BTS 1, Sector 2 to be transportedto all the DRUs in Cell 1. DAU 1 receives downlink signals from BTSSector N, Sector 1. DAU 1 translates the signals (e.g., RF signals tooptical signals) and the optical fiber cable transports the desiredsignals to DRU 1. The optical cable transports all the optical signalsto DRU 2. The other DRUs in the daisy chain are involved in passing theoptical signals onward to DRU 7. The additional base stations providethe capability to add capacity for Cell 1.

As described above, a DAS may thus include one or morefrequency-transition points, at which a signal is translated from aninitial frequency band to a translated frequency band. This may allow anRF signal to be translated into an optical signal to quickly andefficiently transport the signals. As described above, both uplink anddownlink signals may undergo two translations: one at a DRU and one at aDAU. An uplink signal may be translated from a field frequency band to abaseband frequency band to a base-station frequency band, and a downlinksignal may undergo an opposite series of translations. A Physical Nodeof a DAU or DRU may translate a signal.

FIG. 3 shows a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a physical node350 in a DAU. As shown, physical node 350 may process both downlink anduplink signals, which may be possible due to the downlink and uplinksignals operating at different frequencies. Physical node 350 mayprocess a received downlink signal 300′ to produce a downlink output340′ and may further process a received uplink signal 340 to produce anuplink output 300. However, in some embodiments, distinct physical nodes350 may process uplink and downlink signals.

A downlink signal 300′ may be received by the physical node 350 (e.g.,from a sector 110 of a base station 105). The received signal may not beisolated, e.g., from uplink signals. Therefore, the received signal maybe processed by diplexer 305. Diplexer 305 may filter signal 300′/300 toisolate downlink signals 300′ for processing. The isolated downlinksignal is transmitted to mixer 306, which mixes the isolated downlinksignal with a reference signal produced by oscillator 308. Bycontrolling spectral properties of the reference signal, the downlinksignal may be translated to a desired frequency band (e.g., translatinga downlink signal from a base-station frequency band to a basebandfrequency band or to an intermediate frequency band). The combinedsignal may be converted from an analog signal to a digital signal byanalog-to-digital converter 307. The converted signal may be transmittedfrom DAU physical node 350 to a chip or field-programmable gate array(FPGA) 320, which may process and/or route the signal. The FPGA may,e.g., route the signal and/or performing signal processing, such asdigital filtering. The processed signal may be converted from anelectrical signal to an optical signal by a small form factor pluggableunit (SFP) 330. The optical signal may then be transmitted, e.g., via anoptical fiber to a DAU 115 or DRU 120 coupled to a DAU hosting thephysical node.

An uplink signal 340 (e.g., an optical signal) may also be received bySFP 330 (e.g., from a DRU 120 or DAU 115 coupled to the instant DAU viaan optical fiber). SFP 330 may include a photo diode and may convert theuplink signal 340 from an optical signal to an electrical signal. Theelectrical signal may be processed (and/or routed) by a chip or FPGA 320and then received by DAU physical node 350. The digital-to-analogconverter 309 may convert the received signal from a digital signal toan analog signal. The analog signal may be transmitted to mixer 310,which mixes the isolated signal with a reference signal produced byoscillator 311. By controlling spectral properties of the referencesignal, the uplink signal may be translated to a desired frequency band(e.g., translating an uplink signal from a baseband frequency band to abase-station frequency band). The combined signal may be amplified byamplifier 312, and optionally processed by a circulator 313. The signalmay then be transmitted through diplexer 305 to a base-station sector110 (e.g., via an RF cable).

FIG. 4 shows a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a physical node450 in a DRU. Again, physical node 450 may process both downlink anduplink signals, which may be possible due to the downlink and uplinksignals operating at different frequencies. Physical node 450 mayprocess a received downlink signal 400′ to produce a downlink output440′ and may further process a received uplink signal 440 to produce anuplink output 400. However, in some embodiments, distinct physical nodes450 may process uplink and downlink signals.

A downlink signal 400′ may be received by SFP 430 (e.g., from anotherDRU 120 or from a DAU 115). The received signal may be an opticalsignal. SFP 430 may include a photo diode and may convert the downlinksignal 400′ from an optical signal to an electrical signal. Theelectrical signal may be processed (and/or routed) by FPGA 420 and thenreceived by the DRU physical node 450. A digital-to-analog converter 407may convert the received signal from a digital signal to an analogsignal. The analog signal may be transmitted to mixer 406, which mixesthe isolated signal with a reference signal produced by oscillator 408.By controlling spectral properties of the reference signal, the uplinksignal may be translated to a desired frequency band (e.g., translatinga downlink signal from a baseband frequency band to a field frequencyband). The signal may then be transmitted through diplexer 405 to anantenna (e.g., via an RF cable) to wirelessly transmit the signal to auser device (e.g., a cellular phone).

An uplink signal 440 may also be received by physical node 450 (e.g.,from an antenna wirelessly receiving signals from a user device). Thereceived signal may not be isolated, e.g., from uplink signals.Therefore, the received signal may be processed by diplexer 405.Diplexer 405 may filter signal 440′/440 to isolate uplink signals 440for processing. An amplifier 412 may process the isolated uplink signalThe amplified signal may be transmitted to mixer 410, which mixes theisolated uplink signal with a reference signal produced by oscillator411. By controlling spectral properties of the reference signal, theuplink signal may be translated to a desired frequency band (e.g.,translating an uplink signal from a field frequency band to a basebandfrequency band). The combined signal may be converted from an analogsignal to a digital signal by analog-to-digital converter 409. Theconverted signal may be transmitted from the DRU physical node 450,e.g., to FPGA 420, which may process and/or route the signal. Theprocessed signal may be converted from an electrical signal to anoptical signal by an SFP 430. The optical signal may then betransmitted, e.g., via an optical fiber to a DAU 115 or DRU 120 coupledto a DRU hosting the physical node.

Thus, DAU physical node 350 and DRU physical node 450 may each includeone or more frequency translators. In the depicted embodiments, thefrequency translators included a mixer (e.g., mixer 306, 310, 406 or410) and an oscillator (oscillator 308, 311, 408 or 411). In FIGS. 3 and4, separate frequency translators were provided for the uplink anddownlink processing streams and generally had reciprocal functionsacross the two streams.

As described, the frequency translators in the DAU physical node 350 mayserve to convert signals between a base-station frequency band and abaseband frequency or intermediate frequency band. The frequencytranslators in the DRU physical node 450 may serve to convert signalsbetween a baseband frequency band and a field frequency band. Thebase-sector and field frequency bands may include RF bands (e.g., the800 band, cellular band, PCS band, 700 MHz band, 1.49 GHz band, AWSband, BRS/EBS band, etc.). In some instances, the base-station frequencyband and the field frequency band associated with any given path are thesame, and in some instances they are different. As illustrated in FIG.4, multiple DRU physical nodes may be present in a DRU, enablingtransmission at multiple bands from a single DRU.

A system may be configured such that an operator may control frequencytranslations occurring at a DAU and/or DRU. For example, an operator mayidentify a frequency translation via a computer coupled via a serverthat wirelessly communicates with the DAU and/or DRU. In one instance,one or more frequency translators are configurable, such that, e.g., thetranslation occurring at a given frequency translator may be adjusted byan operator. Thus, for example, an output of an oscillator (oscillator308, 311, 408 or 411) may be adjustable and not fixed. In one instance,which physical nodes are active is configurable. For example, eachphysical node may be configured to perform particular frequencytranslations, and one or more select nodes may be activated based onfrequency-translation objectives.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the signal presented to the DAU from the BTSis illustrated as downlink signal 300′, which is received at the DAUphysical node 350. After frequency translation using mixer 306 and A/Dconversion using ADC 307, the digital signal is presented to the FPGA320. The signal transmitted to the DRU is illustrated as downlink output340′. At the DRU, the received signal is illustrates as receiveddownlink signal 400′. After processing by FPGA 420, the DRU physicalnode 450 converts the signal to an analog signal using DAC 407 and thenuses mixer 406 to frequency translate the signal to the desiredfrequency band (e.g., 1900 MHz as illustrated in FIG. 12). Thus, usingthe mixers illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is possible to frequencytranslate the signal from a first frequency band used by the BTS (e.g.,850 MHz) to a second frequency band used by the DRU (e.g., 1900 MHz,2100 MHz, or the like). Frequency translation for the uplink signals(e.g., from 1900 MHz to 850 MHz) is provided using mixers 410 (e.g.,translation from 1900 MHz to an intermediate frequency or basebandfrequency) and 310 (e.g., translation from the intermediate frequency orbaseband frequency to 850 MHz) as will be evident to one of skill in theart.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of a DAU 500 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. DAU 500 may include one or more FPGAs 505 (e.g., arouter), which may process signals and/or direct traffic between variousports (e.g., LAN Ports, PEER Ports and the External Ports). DAU 500 mayinclude one or more ports 515 and 520 that may, e.g., enable DAU toconnect to the Internet and/or a Host Unit or a server 525 (e.g., Server130). Server 525 may at least partly configure the DAU, controlfrequency translations of the DAU (e.g., by activating select physicalnodes 510 or altering frequency translations occurring at physical nodes510) and/or control the routing of the signals between various FPGAports. Server 525 may be, e.g., at least partly controlled by a remoteoperational control 530 (e.g., to set re-assignment conditions, identifyassignments, store assignments, input network configurations,receive/collect/analyze network usage, etc.).

DAU 500 may include one or more physical nodes 510. Physical nodes 510may include configurations and/or operations similar to those describedwith respect to physical node 350 shown in FIG. 3. Different physicalnodes 510 may be used for different operators, different frequencybands, different frequency translations, different channels, differentbase stations, etc. As described above, a physical node 510 may processboth downlink and uplink signals (e.g., combining them via a duplexer)and keep the signals separate. Inclusion of multiple physical nodes 510in a single DAU 500 may allow a DAU to process multiple types of signalssimultaneously and/or dynamically adjust the types of signals that it isconfigured to process.

The physical nodes 510 may be coupled to FPGA 505 by one or morefirst-end ports 535. Each physical node 510 may include one, two, ormore ports, such as first-end ports, each of which may allow signals(e.g., RF signals and/or signals from/to a sector) to be received by ortransmitted from DAU 500. In some embodiments, a plurality of physicalnodes 510 each includes a Downlink port 512 and an Uplink port 513. Insome embodiments, a physical node 510 may also include an additionalUplink port, e.g., to handle a diversity connection. Output ports (e.g.,Downlink port 512 and Uplink port 513) may be coupled to one or moreports (e.g., RF pots) of a base station. Thus, DAU 500 may be physicallycoupled to a base station.

FPGA 505 may include one or more second-end ports 540, which may coupleDAU 500 to one or more DRUs or DAUs (e.g., via an optical fiber,Ethernet cable, etc.). The second-end ports 540 may include LAN or PEERports. Second-end ports 540 may be configured to send and/or receivesignals, such as digital and/or optical signals. In one embodiment, thesecond-end ports 540 are connected (e.g., via an optical fiber) to anetwork of DAUs and DRUs. The network connection can also use copperinterconnections such as CAT 5 or 6 cabling, or other suitableinterconnection equipment.

FPGA 505 may encode signals for transportation over the optical link aswell as decodes the optical signals from the optical link. The DAU canmonitor traffic on the various ports and either route this informationto a server or store this information locally.

The DAU may be connected to the internet network, e.g., using IP. AnEthernet port 520 may be used to communicate between the Host Unit 525and the DAU 500. The DRU may connect directly to the Remote OperationalControl center 530 via the Ethernet port 520.

FIG. 6 illustrates components of a DRU 600 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. DRU 600 may include one or more FPGAs 605 (e.g., arouter), which may process signals and/or route signals. The FPGA maydirect data between select ports (e.g., between LAN and PEER ports tothe selected External ports). DRU may include a network port 610, whichmay allow DRU 600 to couple (via an Ethernet Switch 615) to a (e.g.,wireless) network. Through the network, DRU 600 may then be able toconnect to a computer 620. Thus, a remote connection may be establishedwith DRU 600.

FPGA 605 may be configured by a server, such as server 130, server 525,a server connected to one or more DAUs, and/or any other server. TheFPGA 605 may direct data streams (e.g., the downlink data stream fromthe LAN and PEER ports to the selected External D ports and the uplinkdata stream from the External U ports to the selected LAN and PEERports).

Network port 610 may be used as a Wireless access point for connectionto the Internet. Thus, a remote computer wireless access point may beable to connect to the Internet. The Internet connection may, e.g.,established at the DAU and Internet traffic may be overlaid with thedata transport between the DRUs Physical Nodes and the DAU PhysicalNodes.

DRU 600 may include one or more physical nodes 625, which may beconnected to FPGA 605 (e.g., via external ports). Physical nodes 625 mayinclude configurations and/or operations similar to those described withrespect to physical node 450 shown in FIG. 4. Different physical nodescan be used for different operators, different frequency bands,different channels, different base stations, etc. Inclusion of multiplephysical nodes 625 in a single DRU 600 may allow a DRU to processmultiple types of signals simultaneously and/or dynamically adjust thetypes of signals that it is configured to process.

Each physical node 625 may include one, two, or more ports, such asfirst-end ports 630, each of which may allow signals (e.g., RF signalsand/or signals from mobile devices) to be received by or transmittedfrom DRU 500. In some embodiments, a plurality of physical nodes 625each include one or more ports configured to send/receive signals (e.g.,RF signals) from/to DRU 600. The ports may include, e.g., a Downlinkport 627 and an Uplink port 628. In some embodiments, an additionalUplink port exists for handling a diversity connection. Physical nodeports (e.g., Downlink output port 627 and Uplink output port 628) may beconnected to one or more antennas (e.g., RF antennas), such that signalsmay be received from and/or transmitted to, e.g., mobile wirelessdevices.

FPGA 605 may include one or more second-end ports 635, which may coupleDRU 600 to one or more DAUs or DRUs. Second-end ports 635 may includeLAN or PEER ports, which may (e.g., physically) couple DRU 600 to one ormore DAUs or DRUs via an optical fiber.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 of configuring a communication system todynamically adjust frequency bands in operation according to someembodiments of the invention. At 705, a frequency band for communicationsignals is identified. The frequency band may be associated withparticular types of communications (e.g., bi-directional uplink/downlinkcommunications or uni-directional beacon communications). The frequencyband may be associated with one or more particular DRUs, one or moreparticular base stations or base-station sectors, and/or one or moregeographic coverage areas. The frequency band may be identified based oninput received from an operator. For example, the operator may haveentered the input into a computer in communication with a server 130,e.g., based on its connection with the Internet or a direct physicalconnection between the computer and the server 130. The input may haveincluded, one or more lower bounds and one or more upper bounds of afrequency range or a frequency-band shorthand identifying a well-knownfrequency band (e.g., the 800 band, cellular band, PCS band 700 MHzband, 1.49 GHz band, AWS band, BRS/EBS band). In some instances, thefrequency band is at least partly or completely non-overlapping with afrequency in which a base-station associated with the communicationoperates.

At 710, one or more end-paths DRU is identified. The end-path DRUs mayinclude all DRUs communicating with a base station, all DRUscommunicating with a base-station sector, a particular DRU (e.g.,identified by an operator via input to a computer), a DRU associatedwith a geographical coverage area (e.g., identified by an operator viainput to a computer), etc.

At 715, frequency-translation information is sent to the DRU. Thefrequency-translation information may include an identification ofphysical nodes that should be activated/de-activated at the DRU, afrequency translation that the DRU should perform, a field frequencyband, etc. The frequency-translation information may be based on thefrequency band identified at 705 and a baseband frequency band. In someinstances, the frequency-translation information is further based on abase-station frequency band. The frequency-translation information maybe wirelessly sent to the DRU.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of configuring a communication system todynamically adjust frequency bands in operation according to someembodiments of the invention. At 805, frequency-translation information(e.g., such as frequency-translation information sent at 715 of method700) is received at a DRU. The information may be received over awireless network.

At 810, select physical nodes are activated based on the information. Insome instances, the information may identify which nodes to activate. Insome instances, the DRU determines which nodes to activate based on theinformation. For example, the information may identify a frequencytranslation that is to occur at the DRU, and the DRU may identifyphysical-node translating capabilities and determine which physicalnodes may accomplish the translation objectives. Frequency translationsoccurring at particular physical nodes may or may not be adjusted basedon the information.

At 815, signals are processed through the activated physical nodes. Thesignals may include, e.g., downlink signals, uplink signals and/orbeacon signals. Different types of signals may undergo differentprocessing and may be processed by different physical nodes.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method 900 ofconfiguring a communication system to dynamically adjust frequency bandsin operation according to some embodiments of the invention. At 905, afrequency translation to be performed at an end-path DRU is identified.For example, an operator may enter input identifying a frequency band tobe associated with a particular DRU, a particular geographic coveragearea associated with a DRU, a particular base-station sector or aparticular base station. The input may include an indication of awell-known band (e.g., the 800 band, cellular band, PCS band 700 MHzband, 1.49 GHz band, AWS band, BRS/EBS band), bounds on a range, etc.The frequency translation may be identified based on a known basebandfrequency band, which will define signals received by the DRU. Thefrequency translation may be specific to a particular type ofcommunication (e.g., uplink/downlink communications, bi-directionalcommunications, communications associated with a particular operator,etc.). This selectivity may be identified by operator input (e.g.,specifying that the frequency translation is only to be performed forbi-directional communications involving a DRU) or may be identified by asystem (e.g., determining that frequency-band selections entered by aparticular operator would not affect frequency translations ofcommunications associated with other operators).

At 910, the end-path DRU is configured. For example, the DRU may receiveinformation about the frequency translation identified at 905. The DRUmay activate select physical nodes and/or adjust frequency translationsoccurring with select physical nodes (e.g., by adjusting referencesignals contributing to mixing). In some instances, uplink and downlinkprocessing streams of the DRU are configured in a reciprocal manner,such that a frequency translation occurring in the uplink processingstream is the opposite of that occurring in the downlink-processingstream.

Method 900 continues with the receipt of uplink signals (915) and/ordownlink signals (940). At 915, an uplink signal is received (e.g., viaan RF cable) from an antenna at the end-path DRU. At 920, the uplinksignal is converted from a field frequency band to a baseband frequencyband. Proper conversion may depend upon the configuration of the DRUperformed at 910. The uplink signal may be further processed (e.g., toconvert it to an optical signal). At 925, the signal is transmitted(e.g., via an optical fiber) to a destination DAU (e.g., a DAU directlycoupled to a destination base station). The transmission may involvetransmitting the signal through one or more intermediate DRUs and/or oneor more intermediate DAUs. At 930, the signal is converted from thebaseband frequency band to a base-station frequency bad at the end-pathDAU. The signal may be further processed (e.g., to convert it from anoptical signal). At 935, the signal is transmitted (e.g., via an RFcable) to a base station.

At 940, a downlink signal is received (e.g., via an RF cable) from abase station at a DAU (e.g., directly coupled to the base station). At945, the downlink signal is converted from a base-station frequency bandto a baseband frequency band. The downlink signal may be furtherprocessed (e.g., to convert it to an optical signal). At 950, the signalis transmitted (e.g., via an optical fiber) to an end-path DRU (e.g., aDRU coupled to an antenna that will transmit the signal to a userdevice). The transmission may involve transmitting the signal throughone or more intermediate DAUs and/or one or more intermediate DRUs. At955, the signal is converted from the baseband frequency band to thefield frequency band. The conversion (and thus the field frequency band)may depend upon the configuration of the DRU performed at 910. Thesignal may be further processed (e.g., to convert it from an opticalsignal). At 960, the signal is transmitted (e.g., via an RF cable) to anantenna, which may then transmit the signal to a user device.

FIG. 10 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method 1000 ofconfiguring a communication system to dynamically adjust frequency bandsin operation according to some embodiments of the invention. At 1005,one or more frequency translations to be performed at an end-path areidentified. For example, an operator may enter input identifying one ormore frequency bands to be associated with a particular DRU, aparticular geographic coverage area associated with a DRU, a particularbase-station sector or a particular base station. The input may includean indication of one or more well-known bands (e.g., the 800 band,cellular band, PCS band 700 MHz band, 1.49 GHz band, AWS band, BRS/EBSband), bounds on a range, etc. The frequency translations may beidentified based on a known baseband frequency band, which will definesignals received by the DRU. The frequency translation may be specificto a particular type of communication (e.g., beacon communications,uni-directional communications, communications associated with aparticular operator, etc.). This selectivity may be identified byoperator input (e.g., specifying that the frequency translation is onlyto be performed for uni-directional communications involving a DRU) ormay be identified by a system (e.g., determining that frequency-bandselections entered by a particular operator would not affect frequencytranslations of communications associated with other operators).

At 1010, the end-path DRU is configured. For example, the DRU mayreceive information about the one or more frequency translationsidentified at 1005. The DRU may activate select physical nodes and/oradjust frequency translations occurring with select physical nodes(e.g., by adjusting reference signals contributing to mixing).

At 1015, a beacon signal is received (e.g., via an RF cable) from a basestation at a DAU (e.g., directly coupled to the base station). At 1020,the beacon signal is converted from a base-station frequency band to abaseband frequency band. The downlink signal may be further processed(e.g., to convert it to an optical signal). At 1025, the signal istransmitted (e.g., via an optical fiber) to an end-path DRU (e.g., a DRUcoupled to an antenna that will transmit the signal to a user device).The transmission may involve transmitting the signal through one or moreintermediate DAUs and/or one or more intermediate DRUs. At 1030, thesignal is converted from the baseband frequency band to a fieldfrequency band. The conversion (and thus the field frequency band) maydepend upon the configuration of the DRU performed at 1010. The signalmay be further processed (e.g., to convert it from an optical signal).At 1035, the signal is transmitted (e.g., via an RF cable) to anantenna, which may then transmit the signal to a user device.

In some embodiments, signals are transmitted and received at a pluralityof frequency bands, even if, e.g., the signals are associated with asame BTS, sector or operator. For example, an antenna coupled to asingle DRU may transmit different beacons (e.g., originating at a samesector) within different frequency bands (e.g., the cellular band andthe PCS band). This may allow user devices scanning for signals withineach range to detect the beacons. The beacons may communicate whichfrequency bands would support transmission of uplink and downlinksignals to and from the user device. As another example, an antennacoupled to a single DRU may transmit at least some beacons in a firstfrequency band (e.g., the PCS band) and may receive uplink signals andtransmit downlink signals in another frequency band (e.g., the PCSband). As another example, one or more frequency bands associated withbeacon signals transmitted by an antenna coupled to a first DRU may bedifferent from one or more frequency bands associated with beaconsignals transmitted by an antenna coupled to a second DRU, e.g., even ifthe signals are associated with a same sector or BTS. As anotherexample, one or more frequency bands associated with uplink/downlinksignals received/transmitted by an antenna coupled to a first DRU may bedifferent from one or more frequency bands associated withuplink/downlink signals received/transmitted by an antenna coupled to asecond DRU, e.g., even if the signals are associated with a same sectoror BTS. Further, an operator may be able to dynamically adjust frequencybands for transmitting and/or receiving select types of signals withoutneeding to manipulate any hardware (e.g., instead interacting with anetwork-connected graphical user interface to identify the virtualadjustment).

It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated in FIGS.7-10 provide particular methods according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Other sequences of steps may also be performedaccording to alternative embodiments. For example, alternativeembodiments of the present invention may perform the steps outlinedabove in a different order. Moreover, the individual steps illustratedin FIGS. 7-10 may include multiple sub-steps that may be performed invarious sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,additional steps may be added or removed depending on the particularapplications. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize manyvariations, modifications, and alternatives.

Methods shown in FIGS. 7-10 or elsewhere described may be performed by avariety of devices or components. For example, some processes may beperformed solely or partly by one or more DRUs. Some processes may beperformed solely or partly by a remote computer, e.g., coupled to one ormore DAUs. In some embodiments, shown or described process may beperformed by multiple devices or components (e.g., by one or more DAUs,one and one or more DRUs, by a DRU and a remote server, by a DAU and aremote server, etc.).

FIG. 11 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wirelessnetwork system transmitting signals according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. For example, the depicted frequency translation maybe performed in a Virtualized DAS Network. BTS 105 is connected to DAU115 (e.g., via an RF cable). BTS 105 operates in a base-station band,which in this instance, is shown as being a Cellular Band at 850 MHz asillustrated by signals 1100. The signals transmitted from BTS 105include an Uplink and Downlink carrier as well as one or more Beacons.DAU 115 translates the signals to baseband or an intermediate frequencyprior to transportation (e.g., over optical fibers) to DRUs 120 (DRU 1and DRU 2). As described above, the path from BTS 105 to each DRU 120may include one or more intermediate DAUs 115 and/or one or moreintermediate DRUs 120 not shown in FIG. 11.

At DRUs 1 and 2, signals received from DAU 115 are translated from thebaseband or intermediate frequency band to one or more frequency bandsas illustrated by signals 1150. In the depicted embodiment, the uplinkand downlink signals are in a same band as illustrated by signals 1100and 1150, but at least some Beacons are transitioned between bands.Further, while all beacons in signals 1100 resided within a same band,beacons in signals 1150 reside in different bands. The beacons can betransmitted at whatever desired frequency the operator requests. Thisprovides the DAS infrastructure with the flexibility of repositioningbeacons at frequencies different from those in the base-stationfrequency band, and further allows an operator to transmit beaconsoriginating from a single base-station frequency band in multipledifferent bands. These features may enable legacy BTS equipment withlimited Transceiver Cards to operate in geographical environments wherethe cellular infrastructure may use multiple carrier frequencies.

An example of a scenario where this functionality can be utilized iswhen a user enters the geographic space of DRU 120 but the user iscommunicating in the PCS Band. The Beacons in the PCS band will tell thecustomers phone to shift the call to the cellular band so that a softhand-off can be established. This feature is enabled despite the factthat the BTS 105 does not have a Transceiver operating in the PCS Band.The DAS Network has provided this capability by frequency translatingthe Beacons.

FIG. 12 illustrates a high-level schematic diagram illustrating awireless network system transmitting signals according to an embodimentof the present invention. The depicted frequency translation may beperformed in a Virtualized DAS Network. BTS 105 is connected to a DAU115 (e.g., via an RF cable). BTS 105 operates in a base-stationfrequency band, which is depicted as being (for an example) the CellularBand. Base-station signals 1200 may include an Uplink and Downlinkcarrier as well as one or more beacons. In some implementations,multiple BTSs can be connected to one DAU, which provides multiple RFinputs suitable for connection to multiple BTSs operating at differentfrequency bands. An example of such an implementation is illustrated byoptional BTS 107, which, in addition to BTS 105, is coupled to DAU 115.The use of multiple BTSs, which can be operated by different operators,enables the signals from multiple operators to be transported by thesystems described herein.

DAU 115 translates the signals from the base-station frequency band to abaseband frequency band and transmits the signals (e.g., over an opticalfiber) to one or more DRUs 120. As described above, the signals may betransmitted through one or more intermediate DAUs and/or one or moreintermediate DRUs before arriving at destination DRU 1 or DRU 2. EachDRU 120 may translate the received signals from the baseband frequencyband to one or more field frequency bands. The field-frequency-bandsignals may then be transmitted via an antenna to user devices.

As in FIG. 11, the DRU-translated signals 1250 include multiple beaconsin different frequency bands as compared to their initial base-stationfrequency band. Further, in this illustration, uplink and downlinksignals are also translated into a frequency band (the PCS band)different than the base-station frequency band (the cellular band).Thus, an operator may use legacy BTS equipment with limited TransceiverCards and may functionally operate in variety of frequency bands outsidethe limits of the Transceiver Cards. This functionality may be utilized,e.g., when a customer enters the geographic space of DRU1 and thecustomer is communicating in the PCS Band. The customer can be easilyhanded-off to BTS 105 since it is virtualized as a PCS BTS. This featureis enabled despite the fact that the BTS 105 does not have a Transceiveroperating in the PCS Band. The DAS Network has provided this capabilityby frequency translating the Traffic Channels and Beacons.

FIGS. 11-12 show embodiments in which the same translations areperformed at DRU 1 and DRU 2. In other embodiments, differenttranslations may be performed at different DRUs.

Referring to FIG. 12, in an embodiment, a three-sector Cellular BTS maybe virtualized as a three-channel Cellular BTS. The DAS Networkfacilitates the virtualization of the BTS 105 using independentfrequency translation of the sectored Carriers. This feature can beextended to a larger order sectored BTS. The sectors have independentTransceiver cards but operate at the same carrier frequency.Traditionally BTS 105 would have geographically separated the Sectorsusing directional antennas. In an embodiment, the DAS Networkvirtualizes the BTS by frequency translating the individual sectors ontodistinct carrier frequencies as illustrated.

As described herein, embodiments enable the use of legacy base stationsoperating at a first frequency by translating the first frequency to asecond frequency suitable for communication through equipment operatingat the second frequency. As illustrated in FIG. 12, legacy BTS 105 isoperating in the cellular band at 850 MHz, only providing RF outputs inthis band. As new frequencies have been made available forcommunications traffic, it is desirable to utilize the legacy BTS, butto communicate in bands other than the cellular band at 850 MHz. BTS 105is transmitting both uplink and downlink carriers in the 850 MHz band aswell as beacons 1-4 in this same band. DRU 1 120 is transmitting uplinkand downlink carriers in the 1900 PCS band as illustrated by translatedsignals 1250. In order to notify mobile devices in the vicinity of DRU 1that DRU 1 is operating at 1900 MHz, beacons 4, 1-2, and 3 are providedin the cellular band at 750 MHZ, the cellular band at 850 MHz, and theAWS band at 2100 MHz, respectively. Accordingly, mobile devicesoperating in these bands on adjacent BTSs or DRUs can utilize thebeacons to determine that a transfer should be made to operating at 1900MHz in communication with DRU 1. Beacons can also be provided in thetransmission band (e.g., 1900 MHz).

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 12, DAU 115 and DRU 1 120 are utilized toperform frequency translation to the second frequency (i.e., the PCSband at 1900 MHz) and to place beacons in the various bands asappropriate. As illustrated, the uplink carrier and the downlinkcarriers are frequency translated as well as the beacons. It should benoted that although FIG. 12 illustrates DRU 1 as operating at a singletranslated frequency (i.e., the PCS band at 1900 MHz), this singlefrequency operation is not required by embodiments of the presentinvention. Rather, DRU 1 could be in communication with additional BTSsthrough DAU 115, enabling operation at additional bands (e.g., up to ormore than 4 bands).

Embodiments described herein may provide a high degree of flexibility tomanage, control, enhance and facilitate radio resource efficiency, usageand overall performance of the distributed wireless network. Thisadvanced system architecture enables specialized applications andenhancements including, but not limited to, flexible simulcast,automatic traffic load-balancing, network and radio resourceoptimization, network calibration, autonomous/assisted commissioning,carrier pooling, automatic frequency selection, radio frequency carrierand beacon placement, traffic monitoring, and/or traffic tagging.Embodiments of the present invention can also serve multiple operators,multi-mode radios (modulation-independent) and multiple frequency bandsper operator to increase the efficiency and traffic capacity of theoperators' wireless networks.

FIG. 13 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a wirelessnetwork system transmitting signals according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. As illustrated in FIG. 13, a three sector basestation 105 is used with three sectors that transmit at the samefrequency (i.e., 850 MHz) as illustrated by signals 1340. All sectorsoperate in the same frequency band, but include different content. Byconverting the frequencies of the signals from the sectors using theDAUs (e.g., DAU1), the carrier frequencies of the signals transmitted byDRU 1 120 can be translated to different frequencies. As illustrated bysignals 1350, three downlink carriers F1, F2, and F3 are transmittedfrom DRU1 in the 850 MHz cellular band, whereas a single uplink carrierat F1 was transmitted by sectors 1-3. Similar frequency translations forthe uplink carriers (e.g., F1, F2, and F3 translated to F1) can beperformed. In some implementations, digital signal processing in theFPGA of the DRU could be used to perform the illustrated frequencytranslation rather than by varying the oscillators in the DRU.

FIG. 14 is a high level schematic diagram illustrating a computer system1400 including instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies described herein. One or more of the above-describedcomponents (e.g., DAU 115, DRU 120, server 130, server 525, computer620, etc.) may include part or all of computer system 1400. System 1400may also perform all or part of one or more methods described herein.FIG. 14 is meant only to provide a generalized illustration of variouscomponents, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 14,therefore, broadly illustrates how individual system elements may beimplemented in a relatively separated or relatively more integratedmanner.

The computer system 1400 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 1405 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 1410, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 1415, which caninclude without limitation a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; and oneor more output devices 1420, which can include without limitation adisplay device, a printer and/or the like.

The computer system 1400 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more storage devices 1425, which can comprise, withoutlimitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or can include,without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an optical storagedevice, solid-state storage device such as a random access memory(“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can be programmable,flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices may be configuredto implement any appropriate data stores, including without limitation,various file systems, database structures, and/or the like.

The computer system 1400 might also include a communications subsystem1430, which can include without limitation a modem, a network card(wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationfacilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communications subsystem 1430may permit data to be exchanged with a network (such as the networkdescribed below, to name one example), other computer systems, and/orany other devices described herein. In many embodiments, the computersystem 1400 will further comprise a working memory 1435, which caninclude a RAM or ROM device, as described above.

The computer system 1400 also can comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 1435, including anoperating system 1440, device drivers, executable libraries, and/orother code, such as one or more application programs 1445, which maycomprise computer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or maybe designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, such as the storage device(s) 1425described above. In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporatedwithin a computer system, such as the system 1400. In other embodiments,the storage medium might be separate from a computer system (e.g., aremovable medium, such as a compact disc), and/or provided in aninstallation package, such that the storage medium can be used toprogram, configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer with theinstructions/code stored thereon. These instructions might take the formof executable code, which is executable by the computer system 1400and/or might take the form of source and/or installable code, which,upon compilation and/or installation on the computer system 1400 (e.g.,using any of a variety of generally available compilers, installationprograms, compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the formof executable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer system (such as the computer system 1400) to perform methods inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. According to a setof embodiments, some or all of the procedures of such methods areperformed by the computer system 1400 in response to processor 1410executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which mightbe incorporated into the operating system 1440 and/or other code, suchas an application program 1445) contained in the working memory 1435.Such instructions may be read into the working memory 1435 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as one or more of the storage device(s)1425. Merely by way of example, execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in the working memory 1435 might cause theprocessor(s) 1410 to perform one or more procedures of the methodsdescribed herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. Computerreadable medium and storage medium do not refer to transitorypropagating signals. In an embodiment implemented using the computersystem 1400, various computer-readable media might be involved inproviding instructions/code to processor(s) 1410 for execution and/ormight be used to store such instructions/code. In many implementations,a computer-readable medium is a physical and/or tangible storage medium.Such a medium may take the form of a non-volatile media or volatilemedia. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical and/or magneticdisks, such as the storage device(s) 1425. Volatile media include,without limitation, dynamic memory, such as the working memory 1335.

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punchcards, papertape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, etc.

FIG. 15 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of communicatingwith a wireless user device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method 1500 includes receiving an analog RF signal from aBTS at a DAU (1505). The analog RF signal includes a downlink carrierassociated with a first frequency band. As an example, the firstfrequency band could be a cellular band at 850 MHz, which is thefrequency band at which the BTS operates. In other embodiments, the BTScould operate in another frequency band, for example, 700 MHz, 900 MHz,1900 MHz, or the like.

The method also includes converting the analog RF signal to a digitalsignal using one or more elements of the DAU (1510). The digital signalis then transported, for example, over a fiber connection, to a DRU(1515). The digital signal is converted to an analog signal andfrequency converted to a second frequency band (1520). The downlinksignal, now at the second frequency band (i.e., the analog signal in thesecond frequency band), is broadcast using an antenna coupled to the DRU(1525). Uplink signals follow an analogous path in the upstreamdirection.

In some embodiments, the beacons that were present in the firstfrequency band received from the BTS are frequency translated into otherfrequency bands, which can be different from the second frequency band.

It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated in FIG. 15provide a particular method of communicating with a wireless user deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Other sequences ofsteps may also be performed according to alternative embodiments. Forexample, alternative embodiments of the present invention may performthe steps outlined above in a different order. Moreover, the individualsteps illustrated in FIG. 15 may include multiple sub-steps that may beperformed in various sequences as appropriate to the individual step.Furthermore, additional steps may be added or removed depending on theparticular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldrecognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method forcommunicating with wireless user devices is provided. The methodincludes receiving an input from an operator identifying a fieldfrequency band and virtually configuring a DRU to convert signals to thefield frequency band. As an example, virtually configuring the DRU caninclude identifying physical nodes of the DRU to process signals.Additionally, the input may also include a type of signal to beconverted. Moreover, the input can indicate a particular DRU, of aplurality of DRUs, that is to be virtually configured.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented in an operatingenvironment comprising software installed on any programmable device, inhardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. Althoughembodiments have been described with reference to specific exampleembodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changesmay be made to these embodiments without departing from the broaderspirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification anddrawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

It is also understood that the examples and embodiments described hereinare for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications orchanges in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the artand are to be included within the spirit and purview of this applicationand scope of the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A system for communicating with wireless user devices,the system comprising: a Digital Access Unit (DAU) operable to becoupled to a base transceiver station (BTS) comprising at least onesector configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals within afirst frequency band, wherein the DAU is configured to: receive at leastsome of the RF signals output by the BTS; digitize the at least some ofthe RF signals to create digitized signals; packetize the digitizedsignals to create packetized signals; and transmit the packetizedsignals; and at least one Digital Remote Unit (DRU) configured to:receive the packetized signals; and translate at least one of thepacketized signals to one or more second frequency bands different thanthe one or more first frequency bands.
 3. The system of claim 2 whereinthe at least some of the RF signals comprise a beacon signal.
 4. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein the at least some of the RF signals comprise adownlink signal.
 5. The system of claim 2 wherein the DAU and the atleast one DRU are connected via an optical fiber.
 6. The system of claim2 wherein the first frequency band comprises the Cellular Band andwherein the second frequency band comprises the PCS band.
 7. The systemof claim 2 wherein the BTS lacks hardware required to transmit signalswithin the second frequency band and the third frequency band.
 8. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein the at least one DRU comprises a first DRU anda second DRU, and wherein: the first DRU is configured to: receive afirst subset of the packetized signals; and translate at least one ofthe first subset of packetized signals to the one or more firstfrequency bands; and the second DRU is configured to: receive a secondsubset of the packetized signals; and translate at least one of thesecond subset of packetized signals to the one or more second frequencybands.
 9. A method for communicating with wireless user devices, themethod comprising: receiving a signal at a Digital Access Unit (DAU),the signal residing within a first frequency band; at the DAU,digitizing the signal to create a digitized signal; at the DAU,packetizing the digitized signal to create packetized signal; and at theDAU, transmitting the packetized signal; receiving the transmittedsignal at a Digital Remote Unit (DRU); and converting the signal to asecond frequency band different than the first frequency band.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the first signal comprises a beacon signal.11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first signal comprises a downlinksignal.
 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising: receiving a secondsignal at the DAU, the second signal residing within the first frequencyband; processing the second signal at the DAU; transmitting theprocessed second signal from the DAU; receiving the transmitted secondsignal at the DRU; and converting the second signal to the firstfrequency band.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein each of the firstsignal and the second signal comprises a beacon signal.
 14. The methodof claim 12 wherein the first signal comprises a beacon signal and thesecond signal comprises a downlink signal.
 15. The method of claim 12wherein each of the first signal and the second signal are received froma same base transceiver station (BTS).
 16. The method of claim 12wherein the first frequency band comprises the Cellular Band and whereinthe second frequency band comprises the PCS band.